By Daniel Hartill,Staff Writer

AUGUSTA – Volunteers plan to treat homeless veterans across the state Saturday to a medical checkup, new clothes and a holiday meal.

Vans in 10 Maine towns – including Lewiston and Rumford – will give vets a ride to the Veterans Administration hospital in Togus.

Called the Maine Homeless Veterans Stand-Down, the daylong event is open to both homeless vets and those vets who believe they may soon be without a place to live.

“It’s sad for anybody to be homeless,” said Jim Doherty, spokesman for the VA hospital. “But these are our folks, the ones we’re here to help.”

Any veteran who attends the event will be offered a variety of services, from a showers and haircuts to counseling, dental exams and even legal advice.

It’s an annual offer that has grown over its past seven years.

“Every year, it gets refined,” Doherty said.

The last was held in May 2004, but it was sparsely attended, he said.

This one moves back to the traditional start of the winter season. People will be offered winter clothes and flu shots. Volunteers from Brunswick Naval Air Station will escort attendees through everything that’s offered.

Reading glasses, toiletries and new shoes will be given to people who want them.

Volunteers will include social workers, counselors, chaplains and lawyers.

The VA hopes to enroll all qualified veterans. To receive any of the services, attendees must prove their military service. Some archived paperwork will be on hand for people who entered the service from Maine.

Doherty hopes at least 60 or 70 people will attend, he said.

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